Mid-April.
The cherry blossoms had already passed their peak. As a warm breeze swept through the campus, pale pink petals drifted down from the trees, signaling the approach of early summer.
Lock entered the gates of U.A. High alone today—unlike usual, he hadn't come to school with Kyoka Jiro.
The moment he stepped into the classroom, lively chatter filled the air. Class 1-A looked to be in good spirits. After the short break, everyone seemed to have shaken off the psychological shadow left by the League of Villains' attack.
At least, on the surface.
"There are tons of negative reports in the news," someone said quietly. "They're all blaming U.A. for poor management and weak security, saying we were put in danger."
"Yeah… I get being worried about safety, but it still feels awful to hear."
"Those reporters don't understand the situation at all," another student argued. "The villains had warp-type Quirks. Aizawa-sensei and Thirteen-sensei did everything they could."
After the USJ incident, most of the public pressure had landed squarely on U.A.'s shoulders. That left many students in Class 1-A feeling wronged, even resentful.
Just then, a figure appeared at the classroom door, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
It was Lock.
"Lock! You were insane back there—you actually took down that monster!"
Kirishima Eijiro was the first to rush over, throwing a couple of exaggerated punches in the air, eyes shining with admiration.
A low scoff came from Bakugo Katsuki. He was clearly annoyed, but even he couldn't deny it—Lock's strength that day had surpassed everyone's expectations.
Todoroki Shoto was also watching Lock intently, expression serious.
Both of them shared the same trait: they hated losing. No matter how overwhelming Lock's full strength had been, neither of them felt discouraged.
Midoriya Izuku, meanwhile, had already pulled out his notebook again. Mumbling to himself, he carefully recorded every detail of Lock's performance against Nomu.
Several girls in the class were also looking at Lock. Unlike Kirishima, they didn't rush forward—reserved smiles and quiet glances said enough.
"Morning, Kyoka."
Lock greeted his childhood friend as he walked to his seat, then exchanged a few words with Yaoyorozu Momo, Asui Tsuyu, and the others nearby.
"All right, everyone," Lock said, glancing at the time as he fulfilled his role as class representative. "Class is about to start. Please take your seats."
Ding-ding—
The bell rang.
As Class 1-A settled down, many students wondered who would be teaching today. After all, Aizawa Shouta had been seriously injured—no one expected him to be back so soon.
"Good morning…"
A familiar, tired voice reached their ears.
The classroom froze.
Wrapped in bandages from head to toe like a mummy, Aizawa Shouta walked in.
"Aizawa-sensei?! You're back already?!"
Voices burst out in disbelief. Anyone who had seen him get blasted away by Nomu knew he should've been resting.
Aizawa coughed lightly. "Taking leave is still a form of absence. Even if there's no punishment, I prefer not to be absent while I'm in charge of you."
So dedicated.
Those words made every student—including Lock—feel a surge of respect. Teachers like this were rare.
"Alright," Aizawa said, walking to the podium and placing his hands on the desk. "Before class starts, I have something to announce."
"The battle isn't over yet."
"…What?"
Aizawa deliberately paused, watching tension ripple through the room.
"Don't tell me the villains are back already?!" Mineta clutched his head, trembling.
"Bring it on!" Bakugo snapped, eyes burning.
The USJ incident had left him full of pent-up frustration. He hadn't gotten a proper fight, Nomu hadn't been his opponent, and Lock had stolen the spotlight.
He badly needed somewhere to vent.
Most of the class, however, looked uneasy. Being attacked again so soon was the last thing anyone wanted.
"It's not that the villains are coming back," Aizawa said at last, ending the suspense. "Two weeks from now, the 'battle' I'm talking about is—"
He looked around the room.
"The U.A. Sports Festival."
For a split second, the classroom went silent.
Then—
"The biggest campus event is finally here!"
Cheers erupted instantly. Since entering U.A., what had their school life been like?
No opening ceremony.
Endless training.
Constant combat.
And then the USJ incident.
Their nerves had been stretched to the limit. Now, at last, something that actually felt like school was coming.
The U.A. Sports Festival.
Some students looked so emotional that they were close to tears.
Still, beneath the excitement, worry lingered.
"Is it really okay to hold something like this right after an attack?"
"What if we're targeted again…?"
Iida Tenya raised his concerns seriously. And honestly, they weren't unfounded.
As Japan's top Hero academy, U.A.'s recent incident could easily provoke other resentful villains into taking action.
"The school has already taken that into account," Aizawa replied calmly. "Holding the Sports Festival as scheduled is meant to show how resilient our crisis-response system really is."
"This year's security will be strengthened to five times the usual level. In addition, numerous Pro Heroes will be present as spectators."
"The more pressure we face, the more we must keep moving forward. That's U.A.'s way."
"Plus Ultra—go beyond, no matter the storm."
At last, the remaining unease in the room melted away, replaced entirely by excitement.
In a society where Quirks were the norm, traditional sports had long lost their appeal. What people wanted to see were battles of Quirks.
And nothing was more exciting than the U.A. Sports Festival, hosted by Japan's top Hero school—one of the most-watched events in the entire country.
Quirks are unleashed freely.
Crowds are roaring with excitement.
A spectacular feast of power and skill.
For U.A. students, the Sports Festival wasn't just a competition.
It was a gateway to the future.
Pro Heroes from all over Japan would be watching, searching for talent. Invitations for internships and work-study placements would be handed out based on performance.
In a Hero society already overflowing with talent, competition was brutal. If you didn't stand out, you'd be left behind.
Aizawa continued, "This festival is your chance to soar. Perform well, and both your experience and your fame will rise dramatically."
"Whether you plan to join an established agency or create your own Hero firm someday, popularity gives you choices. It lets you decide your path."
"So take advantage of this opportunity."
"YES, SENSEI!"
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